Hi, I'm Ziggy the "Eco-Power Pup" and I will be your guide for this tour. Look for me at the top of each page for fun facts and helpful tips. So let's get the ball rolling! This site will focus on the channelization of a river in Michigan near Detroit which is called the Rouge River. Let's first talk about what channelization is and what it is used for.
Channelization is a means of modifying a stream bed and/or river bank to control the path of moving water for many purposes.
Some methods of channelization are:
Building levees-a levee is often a raised dirt mound which runs parallel to a stream bed. Their purpose is to keep water from flowing onto ajoining land. "Took the Chevy to the levee but the levee was dry..." Hey you're not singing!
Straightening stream channels-straightening the river by removing the bends in the river.
Dredging stream beds-dredging eliminates soil from the river bottom to create a deeper river.
Reasons for channelization:
Transportation-dredging to make shipping easier. This is done by removing vegetation and natural life from beds and banks. Sometimes I remove vegetation when I bury my bones.
Flood Control- keeping water from reaching floodplains to prevent erosion and protect urban areas. To protect areas from erosion, crews cover the river bed and bank with cement and concrete. This is what happened to the Rouge River.
Building-draining river areas for developmental purposes. Building giant office buildings and shopping mall; O.K., you get the idea.
Agriculture-draining river areas for increased agriculutural growth.
